Autographic register



Jan. 20, 1959 J DAVlDSON 2,869,897

v AUTOGRAPI-IIC REGISTER Filed Feb. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENIUR. JOHN T. DAVIDSON United States Patent AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER John T. Davidson, Dayton, hio,'assigl 1or to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, 01110, a corporation ofOhio Application February 4, 1955, Serial No. 486,257

Claims. (01. 282-) This invention relates to autographic registers, and particularly to carbon paper supply indicators as used therein. I V

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction'as well as the means and mode of operation of autographic registers, whereby such registers. may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications, and be unlikely to get out of order.

,A further object of the invention is to provide a device for visually indicating depletion of the carbon supply in autographic registers equipped with an automatic carbon paper feeding mechanism.

Another object of the invention,in a machine ofthe kind described, is to obviate misoperation or the making of imperfect record carbon copies by giving visual warning to the operator of the need for replenishing the tural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

'With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification,

the invention'intended to be protected by Letters Patent .consists of'the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 'or their equivalents. I

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein 18 shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of an autographic register showing the carbon supply and carbon indicator mechanisms in accordance with the illustrated form of invention; p e

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary .view in longitudinal section taken substantially along theline 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. l, and showing the carbon supply indicating mechanism as it appears during normal operation of the register, an indicator flag comprised in such mechanism being concealed by the register cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the carbon indicator mechanism in the position it assumes upon depletion of the carbon supply;

Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of carbon supplyindicator mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view-in longitudinal. section,

area substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5,. and

ence throughout the several views.

. -The record stripmaterial ice ' 2 showing the carbon supply. indicator mechanism as; it is normally held by the presence of the carbon strip;

Fig. 7 is a View like Fig. 6 showing the carbon supply indicator mechanism as it appears in the absence of the carbon strip; and l V Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 5..

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of refer- Referring to the drawings, an autographic' register presents an external cabinet structure including side walls 10 and'lll. The cabinet structure supports a writing table 12 disposed between the side walls 10 and name in immediately underlying relation toa lidj1 3. The latter has an opening 14 exposing-a part. of {the top surface of the writing table 12. 7 Record terial'cQm prising manifold series connected record forms. is fed longitudinally over the table 12, conventionally-.by 'pin feed devices 15 and 16 mounted on a transverse shaft-17 and makinga progressive engagement withmarginal perforations in the record strip in response to rotation of the shaft 17. The latter is journaled between the side frames 10 and 11, and is selectively rotated a constant distance by hand or under hand control. 7 1

V passes over the table 12 beneath and in line with the opening 14 in the lid 13. In response to rotation of the shaft 17 successiveir ecord forms are presented for inscription through the opening 14 upon the top most or overlying form. The inscription is transferred to underlying record copies by carbon paper, also in manifold strip. form and arranged in ,transverse, interleaved relation to the record strip material. T hus, the cabinet structure supports on one side of the table 12 a bracket 18 rotatably mounting a spool 19 on which is wound a fresh supply of carbon strip material-21, 'Unwinding from the spool-19, the strip materialstretches transversely across the table.12 to .a rewind spool 22 rotatably mounted in relatively stationary brackets 23 and 24. The free or leading Tend of the carbon strip 21 is attached to the rewind spool 22.

The latter is intermittently rotated, for example automatically from a connection to the shaft 17, and so draws fresh carbon material from the spool 19 across the table 12. The construction and arrangement of parts, it will be understood, is to present a fresh carbon surface for each successive form inscription. p

The carbon strip spools 19 and 22 aredisposed between the side edges of the writing table 12 and respective side frames 11 and 10 and so are concealed beneaththe lid 13. The operator thus may have no way of knowing when the end of the strip 21 is reached, other than by frequently raising the lid 13 and checking the supply spool 19. The instant invention, however,-contemplates an automatic signaling means for indicating depletion of the carbon strip supply. According to that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 4, an arm 25 is pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 26 beyond the pin feeding devices 15 and-16, having reference to the direction of movement of the record strip material. The arm 25' extends-forwardly from the'shaft26 in paralleLadjacent relation to the side frame 11 into overlapping relation to the'end of the spool 19. The arrangement is such as to cause the arm 25 to be unbalanced about the shaft 26, the arm tending to rock 'by'gravity' in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. At the outerextrem- .ity of the 'arm 25 is a turned over finger 27 which extends in transverse overlying relationtothe longitudinal axis 'of the spool 19 and rests on the strip 21betwecn the spool 19 and the adjacent side edge: of thezwriting table 12. By reason of its leading end being wound on the rewind spindle or spool 22 it will be understood that'the strip 21 maybe considered to be tensionedand so relatively unyielding to the light pressure of the finger '27 on arm 25. The arm 25 remains so positioned during normal operation but depletion of the roll of carbon paper on the spool 19 releases the arm 25 and allows it to fall downward or in a counterclockwise direction upon the spool 19, in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. Such motion serves to bring another turned over finger 28 on the arm 25 into view through the opening 14 in the lid 13. The tip of the finger 28 is suitably colored and marked to serve as an indicator flag and its appearance in the opening 14 serves as a visual notice to the operator that the last of the carbon strip supply is now on the table 12. After such indicator flag has appeared the set of forms on the table may be inscribed but a fresh supply of carbon paper must be installed in the register before the next set of forms is cranked into recording position, or before writing on such next set of forms. The finger 28, it will be understood, is a rigid part of the arm 25. When the finger 27 rests on and is held by the strip 21, the finger portion 28 is held upward within the lid 13 out of registry with the opening 14 and so out of view of the operator.

The shaft 26, mounting the arm 25, extends between the side frames 10 and 11 and serves also as a support for arms 29 and 31 carrying the tear bar 32 beneath which the record strip material is advanced out of recording position. Hub means 33 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 26 and serves as a unitary part of the unbalanced indicator arm 25.

According to that form of the invention shown in Figs. through 8 an autographic register is constructed like the one above disclosed. That is, it provides a register cabinet including side walls or frames 34 and 35 and an overlying lid 36. The cabinet structure supports a writing table 37, over which record strip material is advanced as before described by pin feeding devices 38 and 39 on a transverse rotary shaft 41.

In side by side relation to the writing table 37 is a carbon strip supply spool 42 and a rewind spool 43, both concealed by the register cabinet and between which stretches a carbon strip 44. An unbalanced indicator arm is mounted for pivotal movement, as about the point 46, upon a bracket 47 in which the supply spool 42 is installed. The pivot point 46 is near the middle of the arm 45. One end 48 of the arm is relatively heavy and tends to rock the arm in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. The other end of the arm 45 terminates in a turned over indicator flag portion 49 which under the counterclockwise urging of the relatively heavy portion 48 presses against the under side of the carbon strip 44 between the spool 42 and adjacent side edge of the table 37. Being tensioned and relatively unyielding, as before described, the carbon strip restrains the arm 45 from counterclockwise motion as urged by the weighted end 48 so that the arm 45 normally occupies a position substantially as indicated in Fig. 6. So positioned, the turned over flag portion 49 underlies an opening 51 in the lid 36. When the arm 45 is released for motion, as when the trailing end of the carbon strip 44 leaves the supply spool 42, the resultant counterclockwise movement of the arm 45 causes the flag portion 49 to move toward and pass substantially into and through the opening 51, making such portion plainly visible to the operator who, as before noted, understands therefrom that the carbon supply is depleted and must be replaced.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an autographic register including a writing table, a cabinet in substantially enclosing relation to said table, said table being exposed in part by an opening in said cabinet, and record strip material being fed over said table from end to end thereof, means for supporting a carbon strip supply spool at one side of said table and out of line with said opening, carbon strip material extending from said spool across said table in transverse interleaved relation to said record strip material, means on the opposite side of said table pulling said carbon strip whereby to define a tensioned web portion between said spool and said pulling means, and a gravity responsive signalling device for indicating depletion of the supply of carbon strip, said device having a visual signal portion contacting said tensioned web under gravity infiuence and being normally held by said web out of indicating position.

2. In an autographic register including a writing table, a cabinet in substantially enclosing relation to said writing table, and record strip material being fed over said table from end to end thereof, carbon strip spools rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said table in said cabinet, there being a strip of carbon material wound on one of said spools serving as the supply spool and extending transversely across said table to the other spool serving as the rewind spool, rotation of said rewind spool pulling the carbon strip across the table, a relatively stationary part in the said register, and an unbalanced arm pivotally mounted on said stationary part within said register, said arm having a signal portion engaging against said carbon strip between said supply spool and the adjacent side edge of said table and being held thereby, said cabinet having an opening, the exhaustion of the carbon strip from said supply spool freeing said signal portion for automatic projection in said opening. 1

3. In an autographic register including a writing table, a cabinet in substantially enclosing relation to said table, said table being exposed in part by an opening in said cabinet, and record strip material being fed over said table from end to end thereof, means for supporting a carbon strip supply spool at one side of said table and out of line with said opening, carbon strip material extending from said spool across said table in transverse interleaved relation to said record strip material, means on the opposite side of said table pulling said carbon strip whereby to define a tensioned web portion between said spool and said pulling means, and a gravity responsive signaling device for indicating exhaustion of the supply of carbon strip pivotally mounted to said supporting means, said device comprising an unbalanced arm having a visual indicator portion engaging the underside of said tensioned web to one side of the table and normally held in cocked position thereby and moving in response to exhaustion of the carbon strip material to make said indicator portion visible through said cabinet.

4. In an autographic register, means for transmitting carbon paper in interleaved relation to record strip fed therethrough and under continuous tension, signal means in said register biased to engage the underside of said carbon paper as it is fed and being retained thereby with in the register, the exhaustion of the supply of carbon paper releasing said signal means, and means defining an opening in said register, said signal means being operative under its bias to project into said opening on release thereof.

5. In an autographic register, means for transmitting carbon paper in interleaved relation to record strip fed therethrough and under continuous tension, signal means in said register held in energized condition by the carbon -paper as it is fed and being retained thereby within the register, the exhaustion of the supply of carbon paper releasing said signal means, and means defining an opening in said register, said signal means being operative to project into said opening on release thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Skirkow Sept. 3, 1901 Lany Oct. 19, 1920 Potts et a1. Oct. 18, 1921 Pringle et a1. Apr. 27, 1937 Jensen May 8, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 10, 1952 

